TAIPEI – China is trying to intimidate Taiwan with the installation of high-precision missiles Dongfeng 16 (DF-16) that have a range of 1,600 km (994 miles), in its vicinity, claimed Taiwan’s Defense Minister on Monday.

China has increased its military intimidation of Taiwan through the deployment of DF-16, along with six missions of Chinese military vessels and aircraft around Taiwan since January, Feng Shi-kuan said at the Legislative Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee.

The minister added China also upgraded its air power with the J-10, J-11, J-15 and J-20 fighters along with the Russian Sukhoi 35 (Su-35).

Taiwan must counter China’s efforts to sow discontent in Taiwan with a show of its military prowess and pressurize the government to give in to the former’s demands, with strict measures, stressed Feng.

She added that the island must strengthen its early warning capacities, build a deterrent military force, and strengthen its response capacities, while promoting regional cooperation through peaceful communication.

The DF-16 has an accuracy of five to 10 meters and poses a major threat to Taiwan, according to Taiwanese military experts, and can evade interception by the American anti-missile system Patriot PAC-3, installed on the island.

Meanwhile, Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council and the national Security Council, too, highlighted the intensification of the Chinese campaign of military intimidation to isolate Taiwan internationally and promote the “one-China” principle.

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